Glyphosate on shikimic acid on Urochloa plantaginea / Efeito do glifosato no ácido chiquímico em Urochloa plantaginea

ABSTRACT: Shikimic acid (SA) has witnessed a strong increase in recent years due to the increasing demand of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The SA is used as a precursor for the synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®), a potent viral inhibitor and is extracted from the plant Illicium verum Hook which has a limited availability. This article proposed the use of Urochloa plantaginea (Link.) webster and glyphosate, as an alternative source of SA. U. plantaginea plants with 3 - 4 tillers and 4 - 6 leaves were harvest at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after application (DAT) of low rates of glyphosate. Samples were dried, extracted, analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS/MS. The maximum SA concentrations were observed at 6 days after glyphosate at 36 g.a.e.ha-1 was applied in plants of U. plantaginea with 4 to 6 leaves. The capability of this annual gramineae to produce elevated SA levels throughout the entire biomass affords its potential for a greater yield on a per hectare basis.

RESUMO: O interesse pelo ácido chiquímico (SA) tem apresentado um forte incremento nos últimos anos devido à crescente demanda da indústria farmacêutica e cosmética. O SA é utilizado como um precursor para a síntese do fosfato de oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), um potente inibidor viral. Este ácido é extraído principalmente da planta Illicium verum Hook. A disponibilidade desta planta é um fator limitante para o crescimento do mercado no futuro próximo. Este artigo propõe Urochloa plantaginea (Link.) webster tratada com sub doses de glifosato, como uma fonte alternativa de SA. Plantas de U. plantaginea com 3 - 4 perfilhos e 4 a 6 folhas foram tratadas com subdoses de glifosato e coletadas aos 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 dias após sua aplicação (DAT). As amostras foram secas, extraídas e analisadas por HPLC e confirmadas por LC-MS/MS. As concentrações máximas de SA foram observadas aos seis dias após aplicação do glifosato a 36 g.e.a.ha-1 em plantas de U. plantaginea com 4 - 6 folhas. A capacidade anual dessa gramínea para produzir níveis elevados de SA em toda a biomassa, pode ser uma fonte economicamente viável de SA.

Star anise extracts modulation of reproductive parameters, fertility potential and DNA fragmentation induced by growth promoter Equigan in rat testes

ABSTRACT Equigan is an anabolic steroid that has been developed for veterinary use and derived from endogenous sex hormone testosterone that plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissue as well as in puberty and spermatogenesis. The current study is aimed to investigate the possible prophylactic effect of star anise extracts (SAE) on the toxicity of rat testes, sexual hormones alternations, sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular DNA damage by Equigan. Forty adult male rats were equally divided into four groups (1st Control group, 2nd SAE group, 3rd Equigan and 4th Equigan+SAE group). Food and fluid intakes, relative body weight, potassium, chloride, phosphorous, non-progressive and immotile sperms were significantly increased in Equigan group as compared to control group. In contrast; relative testes weight, sodium, magnesium, total calcium, testosterone, FSH, LH, PRL, sperm count, progressive motility, and viability showed a significant decrease in Equigan group as compared to control groups. The relative weight of epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostates and serum calcium ions didn't change significantly in different studied groups. Co-administration of SAE with Equigan improved the sexual toxicity, electrolyte alternations, sperm count, abnormalities and DNA damage induced by Equigan.

HLB value, an important parameter for the development of essential oil phytopharmaceuticals

Essential oils are used primarily as natural preservatives, flavourants and fragrances in cosmetic products. Several pharmacopeias possess monographs of plants which are good sources of essential oils, such as Brazilian Pharmacopeia, including Illicium verum Hook. f., Schisandraceae and Rosmarinus offi cinalis. Since determination of Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) value of essential oils appears as a critical step for development of emulsions and other semi-solid formulations, evaluation of required HLB values for I. verum and R. offi cinalis essential oils is the aim of this study. They were obtained by hydrodistillation and several emulsions were prepared by changing emulsifiers. The couple sorbitan oleate/polysorbate 20 provided best emulsions and was used at different ratios, at a total blend concentration of 5% w/w. The lowest mean droplet diameters for R. offi cinalis and I. verum emulsions were obtained at HLB 16.5 (97.12 nm) and 16.7 (246.6 nm), respectively. Moreover, emulsions with R. offi cinalis were finer and presented some bluish reflection, characteristic of nanoemulsions. The lowest turbidity value for R. offi cinalis emulsion was also obtained at HLB 16.5 (0.33). Thus, the present study describes for the first time HLB values for R. offi cinalis (16.5) and I. verum (16.7) essential oils, contributing to their physicochemical characterization and technology development of phytopharmaceuticals.

Central nervous system activity of Illicium verum fruit extracts

OBJECTIVE@#To research the acute toxicity of Illicium verum (I. verum) fruit extracts and its action on central nervous system.@*METHODS@#The TLC and HPTLC techniques were used as fingerprints to determine the chemical components present in I. verum. Male albino rats and mice were utilized for study. The powdered material was successively extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol using a Soxhlet extractor. Acute toxicity studies were performed as per OECD guidelines. The CNS activity was evaluated on parameters of general behavior, sleeping pattern, locomotor activity, anxiety and myocoordination activity. The animals were trained for seven days prior to experiments and the divided into five groups with six animals in each. The drug was administered by intraperitoneal route according to body weight. The dosing was done as prescribed in each protocol.@*RESULTS@#Toxicity studies reported 2 000 mg/kg as toxicological dose and 1/10 of the same dose was taken as therapeutic dose Intraperitoneal injection of all extracts at dose of 200 mg prolonged phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, produced alteration in general behavior pattern, reduced locomotor activity and produced anxiolytic effects but the extracts do not significantly alter muscles coordination activity. The three extracts of I. verum at the dose of 200 mg, methanol extract was found to produce more prominent effects, then hexane and ethylacetate extracts.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The observation suggested that the extracts of I. verum possess potent CNS depressant action and anxiolytic effect without interfering with motor coordination.

Essential oil of Origanum majorana L., Illicium verum Hook. f. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume: chemical and antimicrobial characterization / Óleos essenciais de Origanum majorana L., Illicium verum Hook. f. e Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume: caracterização química e antimicrobiana

Essential oils of Origanum majorana L. (marjoram), Illicium verum Hook. f. (star-anise) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (cinnamon) were obtained by steam distillation using a modified Clevenger device. The antimicrobial activity of each oil was evaluated against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus by observing their growth and/or mycelial inhibition through comparison with the standard dish (without oil). The essential oils were analyzed using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer for identification and coupled to a flame ionization detector for quantification. The major constituents of marjoram, star-anise and cinnamon essential oils were 4-terpineol, trans-anetole and cinnamic aldehyde, respectively. In in vitro tests, essential oils of marjoram and cinnamon promoted an inhibitory effect on the bacteria S. aureus and E. coli, while the essential oil of star-anise presented activity only against E. coli. Marjoram, star-anise and cinnamon oils were effective against the studied fungi, presenting an inhibitory effect. The minimal inhibitory concentration for the mycelial growth of A. parasiticus was 1 and 0.01 µL mL-1 for star-anise and cinnamon oils, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration for A. parasiticus was 0.25, 2 and 2 µL mL-1 for cinnamon, star-anise and marjoram oils, respectively.

Óleos essenciais de Origanum majorana L. (manjerona), Illicium verum Hook. f. (anis estrelado) e Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (canela) foram obtidos pela técnica de arraste a vapor d'água com aparelho de Clevenger modificado. Foram avaliadas as atividades antimicrobianas de cada um sobre as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e para os fungos Aspergillus flavus e Aspergillus parasiticus, observando o crescimento e/ou inibição micelial, comparando-se estes com a placa-padrão (sem óleo). Os óleos essenciais foram analisados em cromatógrafo gasoso acoplado a espectrômetro de massa para a identificação e cromatógrafo gasoso com detector de ionização de chamas para a quantificação dos compostos. Os principais constituintes dos óleos essenciais de manjerona, anis-estrelado e canela foram o 4-terpineol, trans-anetol e aldeído cinâmico, respectivamente. Nos testes in vitro, os óleos essenciais de manjerona e canela promoveram efeito inibitório sobre as bactérias S. aureus e E. coli, enquanto o óleo essencial de anis estrelado apresentou atividade apenas frente E. coli. Os óleos de manjerona, anis estrelado e canela foram efetivos sobre os fungos estudados, apresentando efeito inibitório. A concentração mínima inibitória pra o crescimento micelial de A. parasiticus foi de 1 e 0,01 µL mL-1 para os óleos de anis-estrelado e canela, respectivamente. Enquanto a concentração mínima inibitória para A. parasiticus foi de 0,25; 2 e 2 µL mL-1 para os óleos de canela, anis-estrelado e manjerona, respectivamente.

Longevidade pós-colheita de alpínia [Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.] tratada com soluções de sacarose e extratos aquosos naturais / Postharvest longevity of red ginger [Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.] treated with sucrose solutions and natural water extracts

A alpínia (Alpinia purpurata) é uma planta tropical encontrada em diversas regiões do Brasil com excelente potencial para a comercialização como flor de corte. Entretanto, a senescência das hastes pela exaustão da sacarose é um dos principais fatores que afetam a durabilidade comercial, sendo suprimida através da adição de sacarose nas soluções de pulsing. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de extratos aquosos de estévia (Stevia rebaudiana), anis estrelado (Illicium verum) e sacarose em solução de pulsing na manutenção da qualidade pós-colheita de inflorescências de alpínia. Hastes florais uniformizadas em tamanho foram submetidas à solução de pulsing, por 12 horas, nas concentrações de 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 por cento, tendo água destilada como controle. A melhor qualidade comercial das inflorescências foi obtida quando as hastes foram colocadas em pulsing em extratos de anis estrelado e estévia 1 por cento e em solução de sacarose 2 por cento, não apresentando diferença estatística entre si. A longevidade total das hastes não foi influenciada pelos tratamentos. A solução de sacarose pode ser substituída pelos extratos das plantas medicinais estudadas, na conservação pós-colheita de inflorescências de alpínia.

Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata) is a tropical plant found in several Brazilian regions with excellent potential for commercialization as cut flower. However, the senescence of flower stems due to the exhaustion of sucrose is a major factor that affects commercial durability and is suppressed through addition of sucrose in pulsing solutions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of water extracts from stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), star anise (Illicium verum) and sucrose in pulsing solution on the postharvest quality maintenance of red ginger inflorescences. Flower stems of uniform size were subjected to the pulsing solution for 12h at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 percent concentrations, with distilled water as control. The best commercial quality of inflorescences was obtained when flower stems were kept in pulsing solutions from 1 percent star anise and stevia extracts and in 2 percent sucrose solution, not presenting statistical difference. Total longevity of flower stems was not influenced by treatments. Sucrose solution may be replaced by extracts of the studied medicinal plants in the postharvest conservation of red ginger inflorescences.

Antifungal Effects of the Extracts and Essential Oils from Foeniculum vulgare and Illicium verum against Candida albicans / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is a member of the normal flora of the skin, mucous membrane and gastrointestinal tract. Vaginal candidiasis remains a significant problem in women in childbearing age, Majority of the cases are caused by C. albicans and recurrence is common in spite of topical treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to develop the antifungal agent from the medicinal herbs traditionally used in Korea. METHOD: In this study, the extracts and essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare and Illicium verum were examined for antifungal activities against C. albicans. RESULT: Dichloromethane extracts and essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare and Illicium verum showed antifungal activity against C. albicans. One fraction from Illicium verum with antifungal activity was founf out as 1-methoxy-4-(2-prophenyl) benzene. CONCLUSION: Dichloromethane extract and 1-methoxy-4-(2-prophenyl) benzene with antifungal activity from Illicium verum could be the candidate for a new antifungal agent for candidiasis and other fungal diseases.

In Vitro Anti-candidal Activity of the Essential Oil of Illicium verum / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the in vitro anti-candidal activity of the essential oil of Illicium verum (EOIV) alone and in combination with fluconazole. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of EOIV were determined in 130 clinically isolated Candida strains by NCCLS-M27-A microdilution method, and fluconazole was used as positive control. Meanwhile the checkerboard microdilution method was applied to assay the combined effect of EOIV and fluconazole in 18 candidal strains. Results For the 18 candidal strains the MICs and the MFCs of EOIV were 1 517.16 ?g/mL and 2 248.55 ?g/mL for C. albicans, 1 169.24 ?g/mL and 2 338.49 ?g/mL for C. glabrata, 1 320.03 ?g/mL and 1 741.79 ?g/mL for C. parapsilosis, 1 203.50 ?g/mL and 2 407.01 ?g/mL for C. tropicalis, 1 516.32 ?g/mL and 2 144.40 ?g/mL for C. krusei, and 1 072.64 ?g/mL and 2 144.40 ?g/mL for C. guilliermondii, respectively. Significant synergistic and additive effects were observed after the combination of EOIV with fluconazole, and no antagonism was found. There was no significant difference in the mean fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) between the fluconazole-susceptible and the fluconazole-resistant candidal strains (P = 0.671). Conclusion EOIV has antifungal effects on medically important Candida spp.. The combination of EOIV with fluconazole presents a synergistic and additive effects.